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The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers (22-11) clash with the Marquette Golden Eagles (25-9) Friday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. Tip-off is set for 2 p.m. (TBS). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Western Kentucky vs. Marquette odds, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and best bets.
The 15-seed Western Kentucky beat UTEP 78-71 Saturday to win the Conference USA title. They were just 8-8 in conference play and were on a 4-game losing streak before winning the conference tournament. Junior G Don McHenry leads the team with 15.2 PPG, and he shot 37.1% from downtown. They didn’t face a ranked team this year.
Marquette, No. 8 in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll, fell to No. 2 UConn in the Big East title game Saturday 73-57. The 2nd-seeded Golden Eagles were 14-6 in conference play. They were 4-5 against ranked opponents this season, and they are battle tested. Junior G Kam Jones leads them with 16.8 PPG, and he’s shooting a career-high 41.1% from distance. He averaged 18 PPG in 3 Big East Tournament games.
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Western Kentucky vs. Marquette odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook’s; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated Thursday at 7:26 p.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Western Kentucky +850 (bet $100 to win $850) | Marquette -1600 (bet $1,600 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Western Kentucky +14.5 (-110) | Marquette -14.5 (-110)
- Over/Under (O/U): 158.5 (O: -105 | U: -115)
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Western Kentucky vs. Marquette picks and predictions
Prediction
Marquette 79, Western Kentucky 71
Moneyline
The Hilltoppers are no slouch as they’re tied for 30th in the nation with 80.6 PPG, and they play at the highest pace in the country at 75.0. They are OK at 3-point shooting (tied for 181st at 34%), but not great. They play solid defense as well as they tied for 24th with a 98.7 defensive rating.
Having said all that, Marquette has the shooters and the moxie, which should be enough to continue dancing. There is no play here on the ML, and I don’t see a prop that stands out.
PASS.
Against the spread
Take WKU here. As mentioned, they get up and down the floor. They were 6-4 in their last 10 games, and they were 7-3 ATS. Marquette is a much-different monster, but while they lack the outside scoring, they shoot 46.8% from the floor.
Take WESTERN KENTUCKY +14.5 (-110).
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Over/Under
This is a big number, and I don’t think we get close to it. Marquette was 5-5 O/U over the last 10, and WKU was 6-4.
Take the UNDER 158.5 (-115).
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